Curlie

Books of Hours

In the Middle Ages, pious individuals (or those who wished to appear pious) bought lavishly illustrated prayer books known as "books of hours". The illuminations in such books form an important part of the surviving body of medieval religious art.

This category is intended for sites dealing with Books of Hours in general, collections or exhibitions of Books of Hours, articles about Books of Hours, etc. Sites dealing with specific Books of Hours should be submitted to the category below (Individual Manuscripts).

Individual Manuscripts

Books of Hours were popular books of private devotion based on the monastic practice of saying prayers at set hours of the day (the Divine Office). Books of Hours were often lavishly illustrated, and so are important not only for the history of Medieval and Renaissance religious practices, but also for the history of art.

Please submit only sites dealing with specific Books of Hours (for example, the Petites Heures). Sites dealing with Books of Hours in general, or collections or exhibitions of Books of Hours, should be submitted to the category above (Books of Hours).